Take action

“But what can I do?”

This is the most common question people have about climate change.

The truth is that climate change is so big and so serious and so urgent that we need more than small individual actions -- we need our systems to change. We need our decision makers in government and business to make fixing climate change a priority. We need them to stop using fossil fuels and to roll out renewable energy as quickly as possible. We need them to design buildings, products and cities to be as efficient as possible. We need them to rethink all forms of transport and waste, to stop cutting down forests and start planting trees. And more...

All these things are possible. They are already being implemented by innovators all over the world. But we need them to be what everyone is striving for, not just visionaries. For this to happen we need a groundswell of support for those changes from the general public. We need a climate for change!

There are three ways we can all create the climate for change:

Get informed - learn more about the effects of climate change and its solutions, then...

Stand up - take action to stop climate change, and demand and support climate action from our government and business leaders AND

Reach out - talk about your actions with others and inspire them to take action, too

These actions are intertwined, and this page has been created to provide you with tips and resources to do all three. We hope you'll dip into them over and over again.

Get informed

You don’t need to be a climate-change expert, but it helps if you can see the world through the lens of climate change and its solutions. This will allow you to act and speak about climate change with more confidence.

The following resources can help:

Climate for Change climate update newsletterOur fortnightly newsletter is packed with news and inspiration to help you understand the full story of climate change – not just the problem but solutions, too, and what everyday people can and are doing to create change.

Climate AnalyticsA not-for-profit climate science and policy institute that links scientific and policy analysis. For those who want to delve deeper.

Stand up

Subscribe to our climate update newsletterAt the end of each update you’ll learn about two or three actions you can take – an easy way to do something on a regular basis.

Switch your power companySupport energy companies that are helping to minimise the impacts of climate change, and send a message to the big three (Origin Energy, AGL and EnergyAustralia) that their focus on fossil fuels is unacceptable. By switching to a cleaner power company you can also financially support Climate for Change. Read our factsheet for details.

Change your bankYou can compare banks at Market Forces to see which banks do not invest, or invest minimally, in coal, oil and gas. Before walking away, you can put your bank on notice and tell them that unless they move away from fossil-fuel investments, you’ll be moving your money away from them. Doing this sends a strong message to your bank that you are not happy with them supporting the coal, oil and gas industry.

Divest and investWhere you choose to invest your money matters. Withdraw funds (divest) from institutions that invest your money in coal, oil and gas. (Visit Market Forces’ Super Switch website for information on how to switch your superannuation.) Invest in companies that are fossil fuel-free and/or support community-owned renewable-energy projects. If you aren’t in a position to divest/invest yourself or you’ve already done so, you can join a divestment campaign to persuade institutions that invest lots of money -- such as super funds, banks and universities -- to move away from the fossil-fuel industry.

Engage your local MPWe’re lucky to live in a democracy, which means our members of parliament are elected by the people of their electorates to represent their interests. It is your elected representative’s job to represent you -- but how can they if they don’t know what you care about? Write a letter, call them or visit their office in person and let them know that effective action on climate change is important to you. Julian Burnside has some great tips on how to write to your MP here.Not sure who your representative is?Find your representative (Federal)Find your representative (Victoria) | Find your electorate (Victoria)

Call on your MP to stop taking donations from fossil-fuel companiesMany politicians are in the pockets of big polluters and have been actively working to prevent action on climate change. 350.org’s Pollution Free Politics website can tell you if the federal politician who should be representing you is a climate action blocker and what you can do about it. (Use the search box at the top right of the list to search for your MP by name or electorate.)Not sure which electorate you’re in?Find your electorate (Federal)Find your electorate (Victoria)

Vote for climate actionPolling shows the majority of Australians are concerned about climate change and want Australia to act to stop it, even if it involves significant costs. Most also want Australia to lead on climate action and want more renewable energy -- yet our government is not responding because other interests are more influential. However, constituents hold the trump card. It doesn’t matter how powerful other interests are -- if our elected representatives think they’ll lose their jobs, they will listen and respond. Vote Climate is an independent, grassroots group that tells you how you can ‘vote climate’ each election. You can also directly ask each representative in your electorate their position on climate change -- it will give you more detail and let your representatives know it is a factor that influences your vote.

Hold our media to accountTo take effective action on climate change we need to be fully informed, yet media reports on climate issues are often biased, inaccurate or incomplete. Push for better reporting on climate issues and hold our media to account by writing a letter to the editor, calling talkback radio or sending your tip-offs to MediaWatch.

Join our Climate for Change-makers Facebook groupThis group is a place to share resources and ideas, ask for advice, and invite others to join you in your efforts to create the climate for change. Connect with others who have the same objective and find creative, fun and powerful ways to build the climate movement together.

Reach out

Break the spiral of silenceWhen nobody talks about climate change, we are all lulled into a false sense that the problem can’t be that urgent (or else we’d all be talking about it, right?). This is called pluralistic ignorance and is a key factor preventing climate action. Just by expressing your concern and talking about actions you are taking on a regular basis, you can break this spiral of silence. Whenever you stand up and complete one of the actions above, you can supersize your impact by reaching out and telling others about it – whether in person, in a letter or via social media. By talking about your actions with others you can inspire them to take action, too. This video (made by us with our friends at Trash Puppets) features helpful tips on how to talk to your family about climate change:

Host a Climate for Change gathering in your homeHosting a gathering is a great way to create a safe space for conversation with your friends. Sign up here.

Become a Climate for Change facilitatorOur facilitators are the key agents of change who enable more people to understand the urgency and create a critical mass of people demanding action. Sign up here.

Become an Agent for ChangeA regular gift is a powerful way to make an impact! Our work is only possible because everyday citizens like you are stepping up and giving what they can to make it happen. Your ongoing support allows us to focus resources on reaching as many people as possible and gives us the certainty to work strategically and over the long term.